Cobra 139XLR weak TX on certain channels

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bobby4244
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Cobra 139XLR weak TX on certain channels

Post by bobby4244 »

This Cobra dead keys at about 4 watts on the upper 20 channels but below channel 20 it starts to drop in output watts all the way down to about <1watt on channel one. Also the channel indicator does not light up completely. I suspect it may be a problem with the uPD858c PLL How do you test the PLL chip? You out there Rick?
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Rick
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Re: Cobra 139XLR weak TX on certain channels.

Post by Rick »

The first think to do is re-alignment of the PLL and TX. Let us know how you get on.

Channel display could be just cold solder joints or it needs a new LED display.
Rick.
bobby4244
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Post by bobby4244 »

Heres what I did. I checked all channels with Dosy frequency counter and watt meter. 6 or 7 channels were off frequency I re-soldered the joints at the channel switch and rechecked the frequencies. They are all right on now. Heres the crazy thing - The watt meter is lowest on channel 1 at less than 1 watt. As I go up on the channels the watt meter comes up also. With channel 40 being the highest at just under 4 watts. And the watts come up evenly with each channel increase. What do you think Rick?

I can't do an alignment because I have no service manual (again)
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Rick
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Re: Cobra 139XLR weak TX on certain channels.

Post by Rick »

The TX strip is easy to tune-up. Set the radio to channel 20 on AM with your power meter and dummy load, adjust the coils like so L30, L35, L36 for max power, then go to channel 1 and see what power is like, then channel 40 and see what power is like, you may need to adjust L30, L39 and L37 to balance the power from channel 1 and 40.
Rick.
bobby4244
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Post by bobby4244 »

OK Rick, thats what I needed to know. I'll go do that right now and get back
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